These results established a cause-and-effect association between chronic low-level Cd exposure and ESCC progression, showing Cd not only conferred ESCC cells a growth advantage in vitro and in vivo, but also stimulated metastasis-associated phenotype, as evidenced by enhanced invasion and migration along with EMT, characterized by cadherin switch. This evidence concerns the gene CDH17 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.